Councillor's daughters, 10, have their say on democracy

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For Brad Matheson, local government is a passion. He has been a member of Hobsons Bay Council for eight years and president of the Municipal Association of Victoria, the representative body for the state's 79 councils, for seven.

That passion, it seems, is a Matheson family affair. So much so that, when submissions were called for a review of councillor numbers and ward boundaries in Hobsons Bay, eight members of his family joined him in making submissions.

These included four who are not even old enough to vote: his 10-year-old twin daughters, his 13-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old nephew.

Cr Matheson, his wife Joyce Camilleri and 13-year-old daughter wrote to the Victorian Electoral Commission in March proposing a nine-councillor, single-ward structure for Hobsons Bay.

After a preliminary report was released by the commission in April recommending seven councillors in seven wards, the Matheson clan responded with submissions supporting the recommendation.

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This time submissions came from Cr Matheson, his wife Joyce, his three daughters, his nephew, his mother Joan, his father Clive and his sister Leanne.

Cr Matheson yesterday acknowledged his three young daughters had not written their own submissions.

He said he, his wife and three daughters had discussed the review and developed a "family submission" together. "I sat down and discussed with the family where we are going."

Cr Matheson said his approach to the issue was "no different to other families within the municipality who have put forward similar submissions".

"I've done nothing wrong and I stand by the fact that my family has every right to put in submissions," he said. "The fact is they (the daughters) were aware my wife and I were putting in submissions. If I can be accused of anything, it is that I have consulted my family on this issue and encouraged them to have their say."

I wish to indicate my support
for the preferred electoral
option of seven single-council
wards as indicated in the VEC
preliminary report. This
electoral model will allow for
local representation, more
transparency in governance
and a direct link between the
electors and the elected."From a submission from Brad
Matheson's 10-year-old daughter

But Hans Paas, a former Williamstown mayor and past state president of the Australian Democrats, accused Cr Matheson of poor conduct as a councillor and MAV official.

"For a person in his position, it's embarrassing. His behaviour brings local government into disrepute," he said. "We should encourage youth to be active, but this is using children."

Mr Paas has stood twice unsuccessfully against Cr Matheson. Mr Paas, his partner John Tungyep and 17-year-old son have all made submissions.